Abstract

This dissertation examines four issues, including:
(a) whether outdoor recreation experiences not included in
the Recreation Experience Preference (REP) scales exist;
(b) whether these experiences can be categorized using a
framework called the Recreation Experience Matrix (REM);
(c) how well the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
variables of activity, setting, and expertise explain the
types of experiences outdoor recreationists receive; and
(d) how well two new variables--primary mode and mode
dependence--explain the types of experiences outdoor
recreationists receive. In order to address these issues,
an on-site questionnaire was distributed at Mount Rogers
National Recreation Area in Virginia during October and
November, 1995. A total of 410 people completed this
questionnaire. Of these, 336 provided useable addresses
for a follow-up mail-out questionnaire, with 169 (50.3%)
actually returning it. After performing a variety of
statistical analyses, it was found that: (a) some outdoor
recreationists did report having non-REP experiences
involving identity, cognition, absorption, and self-concept;
(b) indirect support does exist for classifying outdoor
recreation experiences using the REM framework; and
(c) the ROS variables of activity, setting, and expertise,
do explain some outdoor recreation experiences, as do the
new variables of primary mode and mode dependence.

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